While camera equipment itself does not take pictures -- photographers do that -- I am frequently asked as to what equipment I use. Here is a listing of my currently used gear. Don't go out and duplicate this list; buy the equipment you need to take the photographs you like.
But be careful. Let me quote my friend Jack Dykinga: "Cameras and lenses are simply tools to place our unique vision on film. Concentrate on equipment and you'll take technically good photographs. Concentrate on seeing the light's magic colors and your images will stir the soul."
I use Think Tank Photo backpacks to carry equipment in the field.
Here's what I currently use:
Camera bodies:
Nikon D3 and D3x bodies, with Really Right Stuff L brackets
Lenses and filters (all Nikon):
16-35mm f4
24-70mm f2.8
24mm f3.5 PC-E Tilt/Shift
45mm f2.8 PC-E Tilt/Shift
70-200mm f2.8 AF-S
200-400mm f4 AF-S
500mm f4 AF-S
Nikon teleconverters
Nikon circular polarizing filters
Accessories:
Nikon SB-800 flash units + off-camera cord
Walt Anderson's Better Beamer flash extender
Nikon remote releases
Photoflex LiteDisc diffusers and reflectors
Macro:
I use a Nikon 200mm f4 AF Micro, occasionally adding a 5T or 6T Nikon closeup filter, or my Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 with a closeup filter.
Tripods:
I normally photograph from a tripod. The number of handheld photos I take per year, aside from total flash shots, is miniscule. My standard tripod is a Gitzo 3540XLS carbon fiber model with a Really Right Stuff BH-55 ball head complete with an Arca-style quick release (all cameras and lenses have Really Right Stuff quick-release plates mounted on them). I use a Gitzo 1321 leveling base between the ball head and my tripod to facilitate my panoramic work. For long lens action photography with my 500mm I switch to a Wimberley head.
Links:
For the latest Nikon information visit www.nikon.com.
Think Tank Photo is at www.thinktankphoto.com. Click HERE for a special deal.
Gitzo products are at www.gitzo.com.
See www.reallyrightstuff.com for the BH-55 ball head, L-brackets, and custom lens plates.
The Flash Extender is available from Nature Scapes, www.naturescapes.net.
|
